Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are a relatively new type of solvent that have attracted the attention of the scientific community due to their environmentally friendly properties and their versatility in many applications. Many possible DESs have been described and, thus, it is not easy to unequivocally characterize and generalize their properties. This is especially important in the case of the (eco)toxicity information that can be found for these mixtures. In this review, we collect data on the human and environmental toxicity of DESs, with the aim of gathering and exploring the behavioral patterns of DESs. The toxicity data found were analyzed attending to different factors: hydrogen bond donors or acceptors that form part of the eutectic mixture, pH, and the presence of organic acids in the DES molar ratio of the components, or interactions with natural compounds. In the case of ecotoxicity, results generally depend on the biomodel studied, along with other factors that have been also revised. Finally, we also carried out a revision of the biodegradation of DESs.
Deep eutectic solvents are liquid mixtures of solid components at room temperature, which present exceptional properties: high solvent capacity, high biodegradation, low volatile organic compound character, and relatively low toxicity. Furthermore, there are an important number of DES described, formed by different components and ratios, and thus, the studied applications are also numerous. In this review, we focused on the applications related to health. One of the most promising applications of DES is the development of oral liquid formulations of poorly soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients, although it currently remains at an early stage. We have analyzed the potential and limitations of DES with this regard. Furthermore, DES have been used as synthesis media. In this work, we revised the use of DES to obtain bioactive natural products via synthesis or extraction process. Finally, the usefulness of DES in other interesting applications for promoting health has been also examined: this is the case of genomics studies, nano-carriers for the encapsulation of anticancer drugs or stabilization of samples for medical purposes.
Chromosome-specific paints from macrochromosomes 1–9 and Z of the chicken were hybridised to metaphases of the red-legged partridge and revealed no inter-chromosomal rearrangements. The results from chromosome painting are similar to previous studies on the Japanese quail but different from findings in guinea fowl and several species of pheasant. The difference in centromere position in chicken and partridge chromosome 4, previously assumed to be the result of an inversion, was confirmed. However, FISH mapping of BAC clones from chicken chromosome 4 revealed that the order of loci was the same in both species, indicating the occurrence of a neocentromere during divergence.
Therapeutic Deep Eutectic Systems (THEDESs) are a mixture of components, including an active pharmaceutical ingredient, that have recently emerged because of their interesting properties for drug therapies. In general, they have been recognized to increase the solubility and permeability of some drugs, and consequently, their bioavailability. Moreover, they have also been used for novel formulations of pharmaceuticals. Despite the potential benefits of THEDESs, concerns about their safety and toxicity remain. In this review, we summarize previous studies that have investigated the toxicity of THEDESs. These studies evaluate the toxicity of THEDESs using various methods, including cell cultures, animal models, and human trials. The results of previous findings suggest that THEDESs are generally well-tolerated and have low toxicity. However, further research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects of these systems on human health and to identify any potential adverse effects.
1 May 2019 in Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety